The city of Kenosha is on edge as the jury verdict nears in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. Reports have shown videos of rising tensions on the courthouse steps and accusations are flying of more individuals attempting to doxx jurors.
Independent Photojournalist Rebecca Brannon, who is on the ground in Kenosha, shared an image on Twitter of an identified Chicago Black Panther Party member in a local McDonald’s.
Spotted Chicago Black Panther Party members here in Kenosha while grabbing coffee…
This today as five Kenosha schools shifted to virtual learning due to potential violence with Rittenhouse Trial. pic.twitter.com/rh5Zh6fkTP
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) November 18, 2021
Brannon went on to share that five Kenosha schools have moved to distance learning in preparation for the Rittenhouse trial verdict.
Myron Jackson, the brother of Jacob Blake, showed up on the steps of the Kenosha courthouse on Thursday morning, leading the crowd in chants of “Anthony and JoJo.” This chant has occurred during several protests to show support for Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum. Huber and Rosenbaum are the men, the defense says, attacked Rittenhouse in the moments leading up to their deaths at the hands of the then-17yr-old in August 2020.
Jackson then led the crowd in yelling “No justice, no peace.” Followed by, “If we don’t get it, shut it down.”
https://twitter.com/KyleHooten2/status/1461385989767798787
The protesters on the steps also chanted out opposing a mistrial.
Protesters oppose a mistrial: pic.twitter.com/vDQiWakLHp
— Kyle Hooten (@KyleHooten2) November 18, 2021
The defense has requested two mistrials so far. One motion for mistrial with prejudice was filed on Monday following the cross-examination of Rittenhouse himself, after the prosecution questioned Rittenhouse’s right to remain silent, which the defense said violated Rittenhouse’s constitutional rights and the judge’s rulings. A second motion for a mistrial without prejudice was filed Wednesday after details came to light alleging that the prosecution withheld evidence from the defense.
If a mistrial without prejudice is granted, the state has the option to try Kyle Rittenhouse again with the same charges.
However, the judge could grant a mistrial with prejudice, which means the the entire case against Rittenhouse would be thrown out and the state would be barred from trying him under the current charges.
California criminal defense attorney Robert Helfend explained, “For a case to be dismissed ‘with prejudice’ means that the case is dismissed permanently, it cannot be brought back to court, and the charges cannot be refiled. A case that is ‘dismissed with prejudice’ is completely and permanently over.”
Off-duty sheriffs also showed up at the courthouse in Kenosha handing out coffee and “cookies for peace,” according to video taken by Kyle Hooten with Alpha News.
Some sheriffs are handing out “cookies for peace” directly across from Kenosha Courthouse pic.twitter.com/3G6QOyuBVg
— Kyle Hooten (@KyleHooten2) November 18, 2021
According to Hooten, a protester outside the courthouse also threatened to shoot a white male who was questioning the use of the n-word and holding a sign that read “Black Crime Matters.”
Protester threatens to shoot the weird white guy who was saying the n-word earlier: pic.twitter.com/8rhjbWocpd
— Kyle Hooten (@KyleHooten2) November 18, 2021
Reports say that Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) has stationed 100 National Guard troops in Waukesha, about an hour from Kenosha and in close proximity to Milwaukee, should conditions on the ground begin to spiral out of control.
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Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Jacob Blake Poster” by Becker1999. CC BY 2.0.
